Consider the sonnet as a verse form. With examples, compare Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets and show developments in the form to the twentieth century.
Helen Thompson Consider the sonnet as a verse form. With examples, compare Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets and show developments in the form to the twentieth century. The sonnet originated in Italy and was first written by a man called Giacomo da Lentino. This form soon started to become popular, because it allowed the poet to express a large amount of thoughts or ideas in only fourteen lines. It was then developed by many poets to suit their own needs. It was especially popular with Cavalcanti, Dante and Petrarch. Francesco Petrarch was probably one of the most famous of the Italian sonnet writers and so the Italian form is also known as the Petrarchan form. This type of poem eventually spread to England, brought over by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of surrey. The Petrarchan form is very rigid and is not open to variation in rhyme scheme or sequence (with an octave and then a sestet and a Volta in the middle). It is also very set with subject matter - love, time and change. The sonnet form has changed a great deal since the time of the first Petrarchan sonnets. In this essay I have discussed the changes that have been made to the sonnet form, by whom and for what reason. The Petrarchan form of the sonnet was one of the earliest forms. This type is very rigid in format. It starts with the first eight lines, the octave, which states the problem or question.
The Sonnet
The Sonnet Explore aspects of the sonnet tradition through reference to a range of material you have studied The word 'sonnet' comes from the Italian word 'sonnetto' meaning little sound or song. A sonnet is a special type of poem. The sonnet is always 14 lines long and usually expresses the poets' personal feelings or thoughts; most often connected with love or death, which are two of the most basic aspects of human existence. The poem generally uses rhyme and metre to organise the poet's ideas in a formal way. There are several different types of sonnets which all accomplish this in a slightly different style. The Italian or Petrarchan sonnet was originally developed around 1350 by Petrarch, an Italian poet (1304-1374). Petrarch had fallen madly in love with a woman named Laura, but she was a married woman and refused to become his mistress. Petrarch wrote poetry expressing the idea of courtly love and conveying his own misery and his slavery to the love of Laura; a love denied. His verses contain accusations about the fickleness of love, the timeless quality of art and the hopelessness and devotion of eternal love. The Italian sonnet is divided into two sections by two different groups of rhyming sounds. The first eight lines are called the octave. This has two four line units that rhyme in the same way. A b b a, a b b a. The remaining six lines are called the
Explain what you have discovered about the sonnet form from your reading of three of the following poems: 'After Death', 'Youth Gone, Beauty Gone', 'Two Pursuits', 'Endurance' and 'Remember'- Do you think the content of these poems is well suited to the s
Kate Feld UVL Explain what you have discovered about the sonnet form from your reading of three of the following poems: 'After Death', 'Youth Gone, Beauty Gone', 'Two Pursuits', 'Endurance' and 'Remember'- Do you think the content of these poems is well suited to the sonnet from? The three poems I have chosen are 'After Death', 'Youth Gone, Beauty Gone' and 'Remember'. I have chosen 'After Death' and 'Remember' because they give very different, unstereotypical ideas about death, and 'Youth Gone, Beauty Gone' ties in with these because it is referring to growing old. Reading and examining these poems I have discovered that a sonnet has a very definite structure, which is emphasised by a particular rhyme scheme. Sonnets also have a distinctive rhythm. All three sonnets have the same style of language and imagery, and use of a personal voice. There is a very set structure to a sonnet; each sonnet is fourteen lines long, and has only one stanza. These sonnets are written in the Petrachan sonnet from, which means that within the one one stanza, the sonnet is divided into two sections: the first eight lines are called an octave, the final six lines are called a sestet. These divisions can be clearly shown by the rhyme scheme. In the octave, the rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA, and then in the sestet, two lines of CD and E are used in any variation, except that there cannot be a
How do these three poems use the conventions and limitations of the sonnet form to explore the relationship each is discussing?
How do these three poems use the conventions and limitations of the sonnet form to explore the relationship each is discussing? 'If thou must love me, let it be for nought/Except for love's sake only'. What was 'love's sake,' and how was it to be expressed? Conventionally it was through the idealised and equally limiting form of the Petrarchan sonnet. Its tight knit structure of metre, rhyme and lineation however left the space for expression severely restricted. The relationships in the three sonnets stated, nethertheless use this structure, only to undermine it in particular ways, tying its 'blue thread' of convention into a complicated knot. This knot when unwound, shows how each of the sonnets confronts the limitations of the conventional sonnet form, using them either to tell their lover how they feel, or to explore an illicit affair, or even the breakdown of a marriage. Traditionally the sonnet is fourteen lines long, and in iambic pentameter. Barret-Browning uses this metrical convention to her advantage, ensuring that the alterations that she makes enhance her own voice. Refusing to 'fall in well' with the limiting sonnet tradition, she deducts from her fourth line a syllable, leaving only nine instead of the traditional ten. She is demonstrating that as a woman she does not fit in to the male perspective. Instead the syllable is placed in the last line, to create a
An examination of the sonnet from Petrarch to Browning.
Kunal Shrivastava 20/05/2003 An examination of the sonnet from Petrarch to Browning. A sonnet is a poem, which traditionally contains the subject of love. The creator of the sonnet was a man named Francesco Petrarca who was usually referred to as Petrarch. Petrarch wrote many of his sonnets based upon himself, and his lover, Laura. The conventional format of a sonnet contains fourteen lines, and is segregated to illustrate two arguments. Every sonnet takes the conventional format of fourteen lines, although the way the arguments are split up, may be different. For example, Petrarch and Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet both take the format of an octave and a sestet, whereas Shakespeare's sonnet takes the format of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet. The arguments usually comprise of love juxtaposed against its opposite. For example, love versus hate, and love versus death. I have chosen to compare three sonnets. I will compare the subject of their sonnet, the form of the sonnet, and the way that they depict their argument in their sonnet. For example, how they have set out the sonnet, and their use of language. I have chosen to compare, Petrarch's, "XLL," and Shakespeare's, "Sonnet 138," and Barrett Browning's, "XLIII." The three sonnets that I have selected all contain the subject of love, but do
William Shakespeare's sonnet 1 - analysis
ENGL 2305-003 9 September 2004 The poem I analyze in this paper is William Shakespeare's sonnet 1. The main theme of this poem is about the importance of bearing children. I will support this thesis statement by a thorough analysis of the poem's stylistic features and interpretation of its meaning. The first quatrain of sonnet 1 not only introduces the main theme of the poem but also an extended metaphor comparing the roe to the subject that is used throughout the poem. In line one, the speaker says, "From fairest creatures we desire increase." Some stylistic features of line one include alliteration of the words "From" and "fairest" and a stress on the pronoun "we." The alliteration here gives added stress on the first part of "fairest." The poet ties the words "creatures" and "increase" by the repetition of the "crea" sound. This gives the desired effect of tying together increase and human beings, thus the theme of the poem: humans reproducing. In addition, by looking at some of the stressed words and syllables, I notice that "fair" and "sire" pop out, and I think the "sire" is a hint that the speaker is addressing a man, possibly a man of nobility. I think this line means that humans seek the most desirable humans with whom to reproduce. The speaker then says, "That thereby beauty's rose might never die" (2). The alliteration of the words "That" and
I will be looking at the 'Sonnet' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and 'Sonnet 138' by William Shakespeare, I will be comparing and contrasting these two poems, looking specifically looking at Imagery, the Poet's message as well as the use of sonnet form.
I will be looking at the 'Sonnet' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and 'Sonnet 138' by William Shakespeare, I will be comparing and contrasting these two poems, looking specifically looking at Imagery, the Poet's message as well as the use of sonnet form. Elizabeth Barrett was born at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England. Elizabeth was educated at home, learning Greek, Latin, and several modern languages at an early age. In 1819, her father arranged for the printing of one of her poems (she was 13 at the time.). She lived in Italy for most of the rest of her life with her lover Robert Browning; once they became married she became known as Barrett Browning. William Shakespeare ranks as perhaps the most famous writer in the history of English literature. Shakespeare employed poetry and verse within his dramatic comedies, tragedies, and histories, and he also composed notable individual poems. His poems include a series of 154 sonnets, unusually arranged as three quatrains and a couplet; the development was original enough for it to become known as the Shakespearian sonnet. Sonnet 18 (recited by an actor) comes from The Sonnets of Shakespeare (printed in 1609). Both of the writers had a lot of events to draw inspiration from; Shakespeare had the Great fire of London, the Spanish armada, the crusades and the Globe theatre, where as Barrett Browning had the American civil war, the 100
'The sonnet is the perfect poetic form to express love.' Evaluate up to four sonnets of your choice in light of this quotation.
COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT POETRY - THE SONNET "The sonnet is the perfect poetic form to express love." Evaluate up to four sonnets of your choice in light of this quotation. The sonnet is a poem, which always consists of fourteen lines and has ten syllables in each line. It is the ideal form to express the poet's true emotions because a sonnet is a very tight form of writing and it consists of a very compact structure. The sonneteer has to craft his/her expressive feelings into only fourteen lines, which makes the writing extremely emotional and strong. Fourteen lines form a complete poem, because of its rounded structure and its even, structural number. There are two forms of sonnets, one being the Shakespearian and the other being the Petrarchan. The Shakespearian contains three quatrains and one final couplet. All the three quatrains have focused on different aspects containing a slightly different subject; yet they will somehow be linked right the way through. Although, to end of the sonnet, the final couplet will end with a twist, perhaps emphasising either sorrow or heartbreak. The pattern of the Shakespearian sonnet is 4-4-4-2. The Petrarchan sonnet consists of an octave, which are the first eight lines and a sestet, which are the last six lines. The turning point comes at the end of the octave. Often, the pause is positioned in various places throughout the
Imagery in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.
Imagery in Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 It's amazing how authors can induce thoughts or create an impression by a single word. The ideas that can be formed in our mind by a small phrase are powerful. Only the most talented and capable authors can provoke such feelings within us. Who is more than able to stir these feelings in a reader but William Shakespeare? His various plays keep us entranced and curious but it is his sonnets that strike a chord deep within us. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare is particularly powerful. He writes about a love that cannot be compared to anything in the world because of his deep infatuation. Sonnet 18 is part of a group of 126 sonnets Shakespeare wrote that are addressed to a young man of great beauty and promise. Sonnet 18 focuses on the beauty of the young man and how beauty fades, but his beauty will not because everyone that reads the poem will remember it. The poet uses a number of images to portray the beauty of the youth. Shakespeare starts the sonnet by implanting an image of a summer's day in our heads. In England Summer is considered to be the most beautiful season. He contemplates whether or not to compare the youth to this ideal day, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" But decides against it in his second line because he feels that the youth is "more lovely and more temperate" than this day. Temperate is used as a synonym for
What are the technical features of the sonnet form and what common themes do they deal with?
What are the technical features of the sonnet form and what common themes do they deal with? There are a number of technical features of the sonnet form; first of all, all sonnets are fourteen lines long. There are ten syllables in each line, and most of the time they are in the form of iambic pentameter (limping five rhythm), this means that there are five stressed syllables at the start and then five unstressed syllables, this is repeated 5 times. However, Sir Phillip Sydney's sonnet "Loving in truth" has twelve syllables in each line, so that sonnet is an exception to this rule. All of the sonnets rhyme, there are two rhyme schemes, the Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet forms. The Shakespearean sonnet form consists of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet at the end of the sonnet. Usually, the rhyming couplet in Shakespearean sonnets summarises the whole poem. The Petrarchan form consists of an octave, and then a sestet. Another thing is that there is a lot of imagery in sonnets. The main types of imagery are similes, metaphors and personification. An example of a simile is in Percy Shelley's sonnet, "To Wordsworth", when he says "thou wert as a lone star." Also there are many examples of metaphors, such as in Shakespeare's "My mistress' eyes", Shakespeare says "black wires grow on her head." This means that he is comparing black wires to actual hair. There are also a